What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong
The UN has called for the replacement of the widely used Mercator map projection with more accurate alternatives like the Equal Earth projection, due to the Mercator map's inaccurate depiction of continent sizes, particularly Africa. The article explains how the 1569 Mercator map, designed for navigation, distorts landmasses near the poles while preserving angles.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant issue in cartography and global perception, as widely used maps can perpetuate misconceptions about the true sizes and relationships of continents, influencing education and geopolitical understanding. The UN's involvement underscores the importance of accurate representation.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jaroslav Lukiv BBC The Mercator projection is the map widely used across the globe but inaccurately depicts the sizes of countries and continents The UN has just called for the predominant world map to be replaced with one that more accurately reflects the true size of continents such as Africa.
The "Correct the Map" resolution adopted by the General Assembly aims to fix the discrepancy on the Mercator map, in which the African continent is shown as being of similar size to Greenland - even though it is in reality about 14 times larger.
It adopted a new map, the Equal Earth projection, which better represents the true sizes of landmasses - but comes with problems of its own.
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